Cynara was quite gratified to see everyone’s genuine concern for Elizabeth. They had been working with the family for a long time and were fiercely loyal. Elizabeth was fortunate to have such a devoted staff. They were all in a pensive mood reminiscing about the good old days, before Mr. George Stewart’s tragic death. Mrs. Simpson talked about how they used to host the most dazzling parties at the manor.
Cynara felt saddened to think how life had changed for all of them. Jimmy’s one act had afflicted them forever. This was not the only household that had been affected. Families of all the others who perished along with Mr. George Stewart must also be facing similar ordeals. What did Jimmy achieve for his heinous crime? It certainly could not be heaven, as some Muslim fundamentalists were preaching to would-be Jihadis. Heaven could not be attainable to such a sinner in any religion.
Cynara worked for the next few hours. Around 11 a.m., Jane called after visiting Elizabeth in the hospital. She was in better spirits today. The shock seemed to have worn off. Jane mentioned the press briefing at Mr. Philip Stewart’s house. Her dad, her Uncle Michael, and Kevin had also been present. Senior Mr. Stewart told the reporters that there had been a home invasion and the intruder, a woman, had shot Elizabeth and fled. The police were actively looking for her.
The reporters had bombarded them with a lot of questions as to why someone was targeting Elizabeth and if there was a connection between this shooting and Sharon’s murder. The family maintained they had no idea if the two crimes were linked. They were also clueless in regards to the motive behind both the attacks. That was up to the police and investigators to determine. They implored the media to stay away from the hospital and the manor house, to lend Elizabeth her privacy after everything that she had borne.
Jane doubted the annoying news writers would honor the request. She spotted a couple of them standing in the hospital lobby. Fortunately, they did not approach her when she was leaving the premises. Mr. Brooks from Scotland Yard had also visited Elizabeth during Jane’s visit and asked her to describe what she could of her attacker. Elizabeth had just managed a brief glance, and that too in the dark, before fleeing her room. The woman had been masked. The only details Elizabeth provided were she was slim, tall, and had either short hair or hair tied back. It was not much to go on.
Unfortunately, the attack had been extremely swift and the assailant had vanished. Other than Elizabeth’s momentary glimpse, no one else had seen her. The two policemen on patrol duty were equally clueless. Their coffee and blood analysis showed a high content of sleeping pills. They always bought coffee at the start of the shift and left it sitting in a thermos in their car for a few hours before drinking. The attacker must have observed this pattern and spiked their coffee during that time. That is how they had passed out. The attacker left no evidence behind, no prints, nothing. It was almost as if she had been a figment of Elizabeth’s imagination. However, the shooting was a reality.
Scotland Yard had recovered the bullet from the balustrade that had been behind Elizabeth when she was shot. It had passed through her arm and embedded in the wood. They were still awaiting the ballistics report. No gun was recovered from the scene of the crime or elsewhere on the premises. It seemed to be a premeditated, well-planned attack. Mr. Brooks refused to comment on whether the same gun had been used again. He said this could not be determined until the report came back.
Cynara thanked Jane for her update and went back to the kitchen to let the others know. Mrs. Keene was busily packing some soup she had made for Elizabeth. Mrs. Stewart was going to the hospital to drop it off. Cynara decided to accompany her. They called for a taxi. Mr. Drake went outside to check and spied a few reporters staking out the manor, standing just outside the closed gate. When the taxi arrived, he asked Mrs. Simpson and Cynara to wait at the end of the driveway.
Mr. Drake authoritatively walked to the gate and asked the news people to step aside. He opened the gate for the taxi to enter the driveway. Mrs. Simpson and Cynara promptly got in. The reporters quietly watched them leave. Cynara turned around and saw Mr. Drake closing the gate behind them. He was very protective. There seemed to be quite a few reporters dawdling around in the main lobby of the hospital as well. Mrs. Simpson and Cynara both kept their heads down and swiftly took the elevator up to Elizabeth’s room.
Elizabeth looked better than she had the day before. Kevin’s wife, Margaret, was keeping her company. Margaret was a smartly dressed, not too attractive, woman in her late 20’s. Sitting next to Elizabeth, she looked very average. Elizabeth was so alluring, with her perfect features and angelic face. Most women paled in comparison and Margaret was no different. She was from an affluent background and it showed in the way she wore her clothes.
Elizabeth was quite delighted to see them. Mrs. Simpson almost got emotional and held her hands quietly for a few moments before calming down. She lovingly poured out the soup in a bowl and watched like a mother while Elizabeth drank it slowly. It was satisfying to see how she lapped it up. Not even a drop remained in the container. The doctor stopped by just after she finished. He was confident Elizabeth would be able to go home the following day. Cynara and Mrs. Simpson returned to the manor and let the others know the good news.
Cynara worked until about 4 p.m. She had tea in the kitchen and then went back to her cottage. Charles had walked in just a few minutes before her. His interview went well. He had first met with human resources. Next, he was interviewed by three different co-workers on the team he was applying to. Lastly, he met the manager. He felt he had made a positive impression and was quite hopeful of getting the job. They would decide and let him know by the end of the week. Cynara resolved to not discuss it any further and get unnecessarily excited until Charles heard back definitively.
A couple of irksome reporters were still lurking outside the gates the next morning. The story of the attempted murder was running on all the local news channels, rife with speculation about how Sharon’s murder and Elizabeth’s attack were linked. Each channel had its own theories about the connection and the motive. The police and Scotland Yard had not released any statements yet. Their investigation was still ongoing and they probably had nothing new to report. All the news was currently based on the briefing held by Elizabeth’s father-in-law.
Elizabeth was discharged after lunch from the hospital. Ruth’s parents, Michael and Fiona, drove her to the manor. They had called in the morning and informed Mr. Drake. Mrs. Simpson and Mrs. Keene made some necessary arrangements. They set up one of the downstairs bedrooms. It was best for Elizabeth to not climb the stairs until she had regained her full strength. All of the staff were in very high spirits while awaiting the return of their mistress.
Mr. Drake kept a lookout for Mr. Michael Stewart’s car and rushed outside to open the gate as it approached the manor. They were followed by a few news vans, all belonging to different channels. The vans parked on one side of the road and the news crews rushed out and joined the others at the scene. Mr. Drake closed the gate shut as Mr. Michael Stewart drove through. The reporters all congregated at the gate trying to catch a glimpse of Elizabeth as she stepped out of the car. Mrs. Fiona Stewart and Mr. Drake shielded her from the cameras and escorted her into the house.
Most of the major networks were there. They all seemed to shout questions simultaneously. Mr. Stewart approached the gate and held up his hand to silence them. He firmly stated there was nothing new to share. They again started bombarding him with various queries. He just shook his head and beseeched them to leave and let Elizabeth recover peacefully. Only one of them actually heeded his words and started packing his equipment. Mr. Stewart came back inside the house.
Mrs. Simpson helped Elizabeth get settled in the bedroom. She looked worn out. The discharge formalities in the hospital had taken quite some time. They had to wait for the final sign off from the doctor. The presence of the media had just added to her stress. Ruth’s parents left shortly afterwards and Elizabeth went to sleep. Cynara returned to the study a
nd attempted to finish a few letters. Mrs. Keene brought her tea after a few hours. Elizabeth was still sleeping peacefully. Mrs. Simpson and Mrs. Keene were periodically checking on her.
Bradley called while Cynara was still sipping her tea. He sounded a bit strange. “I heard Elizabeth has been discharged. Is she home?”
“Yes, she came after lunch. She is resting right now,” Cynara replied.
“I just spoke with my source in the police,” he said pausing cryptically.
“What did he say?” Cynara’s sense of doom returned with a vengeance.
“Elizabeth’s friend Marie Hall came to the police station. She is convinced the attacker is Nancy Young,” Bradley said.
Chapter 39
“Nancy Young? Elizabeth’s friend?” Cynara uttered in shock. “The third person in their trio?”
“Yes. All three of them, Elizabeth, Marie, and Nancy, used to be inseparable. A few months before George’s death, Nancy became distant. It created a rift between them. Marie could not quite understand why. She tried asking Nancy a few times but did not get an explanation. Elizabeth was also unaware of the reason behind Nancy’s aloofness. Marie’s husband died in the bombing with George. Elizabeth went into seclusion but Nancy stood by Marie and gave her the emotional support she needed. They again became very close. Marie tried to ask her about the rift but never received a clear answer. She finally stopped inquiring because she did not want to spoil her friendship. And Elizabeth was anyway nowhere in the picture all of this past year,” Bradley explained.
“But then the three of them met again at Ruth’s funeral,” Cynara interrupted. She recalled how Marie had been very warm towards Elizabeth but Nancy had seemed a bit standoffish.
“Yes they met and soon afterwards Marie invited them both out for lunch,’ Bradley said.
“Just last week,” Cynara said.
“Nancy was again quite aloof. Elizabeth either did not realize or just played ignorant. It made Marie very uncomfortable. The next day, she confronted Nancy and asked her to explain her behavior. Nancy initially denied it. Marie was not willing to let go this time. She felt that Elizabeth was finally coming out of her reclusion and wanted the three of them to bond like before. Nancy relented and confessed she hates Elizabeth,” Bradley paused.
“Hates Elizabeth? Why is that? What did she ever do?” Cynara queried.
“It is because of George,” Bradley said.
“George? How does he fit in?” Cynara asked, the answer dawning on her just as she formulated her question. “Did he…?”
“Yes, he did,” Bradley stated. “They had an affair, a very passionate affair. It started about six months before his death. Nancy was completely in love. He promised to divorce Elizabeth for her and she foolishly believed him. Then about a month before the bombing, George told Nancy that Elizabeth was not agreeing to the divorce. It would get very messy. He did not want to drag his family through such a scandal and so was breaking off the relationship. Nancy begged him to reconsider but he stood firm.”
“What an imposter!” Cynara exclaimed. “George never intended to divorce Elizabeth. He must have lost interest and that was his excuse for ending the affair.”
“Yes, that seems to have been his strategy,” Bradley said. “Nancy was heartbroken. She was convinced Elizabeth knew and expected a showdown every time they met. When it did not happen, she felt belittled, as if Elizabeth was taunting her.”
“And Elizabeth had no clue,” Cynara said.
“Yes. This caused Nancy to fester hatred against Elizabeth. Seeing her again after almost a year re-kindled the resentment,” Bradley said.
“George really spoilt it for them,” Cynara commented.
“He was a selfish bastard. Elizabeth is better off without him,” Bradley said.
“Did Marie try to reason with Nancy?” Cynara questioned.
“She did but realized it was in vain. Nancy’s loathing is too deep rooted. Nancy even confessed that she had thought of killing Elizabeth a number of times,” Bradley replied.
“It must have been shocking for Marie?” Cynara asked.
“Yes. Marie had no idea that George was such a womanizer. She always thought that he and Elizabeth had an ideal marriage,” Bradley replied.
“And she realized that George had used Nancy?” Cynara asked.
“Yes she did. It was obvious how much Nancy still loved her image of the man and so Marie just left it at that,” Bradley said.
“Love is blind,” Cynara said.
“Yes, unfortunately true in this case. Real blind faith,” Bradley said. “Marie heard about the attempt on Elizabeth’s life and is convinced it is Nancy. She feels Nancy is not quite balanced. Nancy was shattered by George’s death and has persuaded herself that Elizabeth is somehow responsible.”
“How can Elizabeth be held accountable for Jimmy’s suicide?” Cynara asked. “Is Nancy really Elizabeth’s attacker?”
“It is possible. Deep-rooted hatred that has lasted more than a year makes for a credible motive. I have seen a lot of strange crimes committed for even lesser reasons,” Bradley said.
“It must have been difficult for Marie to step up and accuse Nancy,” Cynara stated.
“She was quite candid with the police and told them that ultimately she followed her conscience and is trying to save both her friends,” Bradley said.
“How is she saving both of them? Nancy will be arrested,” Cynara questioned.
“Marie believes Nancy is psychologically imbalanced and needs professional help. Hopefully the jury will see that and be kind to her,” Bradley explained.
“What will the police do now? Take her into custody?” Cynara asked.
“Not yet. They will first bring her in for questioning. A team has already been dispatched to her house,” Bradley replied.
Cynara felt very nervous, as if butterflies were fluttering in her stomach. “Do you think Nancy is linked to Sharon’s murder?”
“Seems almost fantastic but anything is possible at this point,” Bradley said simply.
“Yes but it does not seem viable. Sharon’s and Qureshi’s murders are linked, as the same gun was used in both the crimes. Nancy met Elizabeth after a year at Ruth’s burial. Qureshi was already dead by then. Sharon was murdered a week later. Elizabeth and Nancy met again for lunch, but only after Sharon’s demise. Elizabeth was attacked after this lunch, presumably by Nancy. But how could Nancy possibly have anything to do with Sharon and Qureshi?” Cynara asked.
“You have a point. The crimes could be distinct, Qureshi and Sharon is one, and Elizabeth is another,” Bradley paused thoughtfully. “No, it is too much of a coincidence. They have to be tied together.”
“True,” Cynara sighed.
“We will just have to wait and see what Nancy reveals during her interrogation,” Bradley said.
“The one thing that will be revealed is her affair with George. How will Elizabeth react? I am terribly worried,” Cynara said.
“It will be a shock. I feel it is best Elizabeth knows the truth. It might help her to stop grieving that scoundrel,” Bradley said.
“I hope so,” Cynara said fervently. She thanked Bradley before disconnecting the call. Her tea was cold by now. She gulped it down and took the tea tray into the kitchen. Mrs. Simpson and Mrs. Keene were shelling peas for dinner. Elizabeth was still asleep. Cynara wanted to warn them about what they would soon face but restrained herself. She wondered if anybody else knew about the affairs. It would be all over the media and the entire family would have to deal with it.
Cynara walked into the cottage to tantalizing smells wafting from the kitchen. Charles seemed to be cooking up a storm. She quickly changed and joined him. He had a recipe book open and was making a four-course dinner. Cynara offered to help but Charles had already prepared everything. Only the salad remained for which he was chopping lettuce and cherry tomatoes. Before Cynara had a chance to talk about her phone conversation Charles suggested inviting Bradley for their gourmet meal.
Cynara made the call and Bradley immediately accepted. She then filled in Charles on Marie’s visit with the police and implicating Nancy of the crime. Charles was astounded. He almost sliced his finger instead of the tomato. Cynara worriedly snatched the knife away from him and cut the rest of the salad. She discussed her viewpoint that Nancy was not guilty of Qureshi’s and Sharon’s homicides. Charles did not know what to think.
Bradley arrived before long. They ate straightaway. The conversation revolved exclusively around Nancy and the crimes. Charles also agreed with Bradley that Nancy had to be somehow connected to Qureshi and Sharon. Sharon’s murder and then the bomb in the mailbox and ultimately the attack on Elizabeth could not be isolated from each other. Otherwise, how could such multiple incidences occur within the family? They all had to be part of the same scheme.
A Bombing Enigma Page 23
